Innholdsfortegnelse for 3/15/2023 i Classic Car Buyer

A Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘gullwing’ that was originally supplied to His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan in August 1955 is about to go on display at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. The late King Hussein used the Mercedes for many years, successfully competing in hillclimbs and races in Jordan. It remained one of his favourites, and spent its later years on show at the Royal Automobile Museum in Amman. Following the death of His Majesty, the 300SL was left to his daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Haya. The car was recently gifted to her son, His Highness Sheikh Zayed, who has agreed to loan it to Beaulieu following a comprehensive restoration by Daimler-Benz.…

Skoda Felicia (1994-2001) If the front-wheel drive Favorit of the late ’80s brought revolution to the Skoda line-up, the subsequent Felicia proved that the Czech car maker was now a serious contender. The start of the ’90s saw VW taking a 30 per cent share in Skoda, with the German giant playing a major role in the Felicia’s development. Rover 200 (1995-1999) Rover’s R3-generation 200 went on to spawn the 1999-on Rover 25 and the 2001-on MG ZR, each of which now has its own following. But we reckon the 200 series is the sweet spot in the range, its sleek front end styling (with narrow headlamps and shallow grille) having aged better than the 25’s quad-lamp set-up. Citroën ZX (1991-1998) The ZX lacked Citroën’s famous hydropneumatic suspension and overall…

Morris Minor Paul Guinness, Editor Combine affordable prices with simple mechanicals and excellent club and specialist support and you get the ideal car for those dipping their toes into the world of classics. The Minor is brimming with character; and while the saloon will suit most buyers, the Traveller adds extra practicality. There’s a wealth of ways to improve one, too, from larger engines and updated suspension and brakes to cabin improvements for greater usability. Citroën 2CV Andrew Evanson, Lancaster Insurance Fancy something a bit quirkier? Then the famous Deux Chevaux fits the bill. The driving experience is certainly unique, from the grin-inducing body roll to revving out the little air-cooled twin to make the most of the modest power. Easy to repair and maintain, just about every part is available,…

Contact: St Andrews Autos, Edney Common, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3PX  Tel: 01245 248888 standrewsautos.co.uk In the 1950s, every British car maker wanted to tap into the American market. But after a few attempts to sell them economy cars, ordinary saloons and luxury fare, it quickly became clear that the only British models they really wanted were sports cars. What became the Sunbeam Alpine started off as a bespoke rally car, based on the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 saloon, built for a Rootes dealer to take rallying. Interest in the car snowballed and it ended up in production, with the name conjuring up past Rootes success in the gruelling Alpine Rally. Although not as low-slung or as sleek as other sports cars, the Alpine was a true roadster – strictly a two-seater with…

A one-off aircraft-engined car that achieved global fame in the 1970s is currently attracting bids in an online Car & Classic auction – with the sale set to end just a day after this issue of CCB is published. Created by John Dodd and powered by a 27-litre Merlin engine, The Beast has featured in countless newspaper and magazine articles over the last 40-odd years. It is the second incarnation of the concept after the original was wrecked in a fire. Undeterred by that setback, Dodd saw an opportunity to improve the design, and acquired the Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 engine that’s still in place. A new-style body was designed, but Rolls-Royce objected to Dodd’s use of one of its radiator grilles and subsequently took him to court. Rolls-Royce won the…

Regenerated seals Motor Oil Saver from Liqui Moly regenerates rubber and plastic engine seals, such as shaft and valve stem seals, preventing oil stains under your car. Reducing engine noise and oil consumption through piston rings and valve guides, it’s suitable for all petrol and diesel engines. How much? £6.99 Where? liqui-moly.com / 0121 796 5365 Triumph carb set This manifold and linkage set allows the fitment of three Weber 40DCOE carburettors to the Triumph GT6 engine. The inlet manifold set and linkage can be ordered separately (part number MW0091), or with genuine Spanish Weber carbs (part number PTR304) priced at £2634. How much? From £624 Where? webcon.co.uk / 01932 787100 Cortina Lotus coilovers Fitting the early Ford Cortina Lotus (1963-1965) with its vertical coil spring/dampers that connect to an…

New from SNG Barratt is the Stella Lux H4 HED Headlamp Conversion Kit, designed and developed for all seven-inch Lucas headlamps that use H4 bulbs. The headlamp kit is said to represent a “technological breakthrough for classic car owners”, delivering much-improved visibility for a safer driving experience. The kit delivers modern LED lighting levels, which are claimed to be 400 per cent brighter than a standard H4 halogen bulb. The headlamps emit a neutral white colour using the latest HGL3 5530 LEDs from Lattice Power, and each light unit offers a lifespan of 30,000-plus hours. The conversion is compliant with current UK MoT requirements for all vehicles registered prior to April 1, 1986 and is suitable for a wide range of makes and models. To find out more, visit sngbarratt.com…

The creation of British Leyland in 1968 marked the start of a turbulent era for the numerous brands it brought together. Financial restraints saw the company understandably focusing on its mass-market models, with an array of new designs set to be launched over the next few years. But this meant bad news for MG, Britain’s best-known sporting brand – and the one that would suffer the most during its first decade under British Leyland. Indeed, the marque would be killed off altogether in late 1980, only to be resurrected just 18 months later. By the time British Leyland came into being, MG’s Midget and MGB were seven and six year old respectively, which would normally mean they were heading towards the end of their careers. Indeed, the original plan was…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance Services Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk Tel: 01480 809176 Example quote: £89.97, or £107.97 with Agreed Value. Quote based on a 45-year-old marketing manager, access to another car, no claims or convictions, club member, 3000 miles per year, no modifications, living in SP2 0HL.  Disclaimer: Subject to underwriting criteria. An additional charge may be payable. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.…

Contact: TRGB Somersham, Huntingdon PE28 3HJ Tel: 01487 842168 trgb.co.uk The TR4 is something of the middle child of the TR family, coming immediately after the original ‘sidescreen and wasp-waist’ models of the 1950s but before the six-cylinder ones of the late ’60s, featuring the engine of the former and the styling of the latter. The original TR2 had wrested dominance of the sports car market away from MG, but by the end of the 1950s the pendulum had swung the other way when MG made its riposte in the elegant, modern shape of the MGA. The more modern-looking and refined TR4 was Canley’s own response, but Abingdon kept up the pressure via the MGB of 1962, with its strong, lightweight monocoque, spacious cockpit and car-like ride quality. The TR4…

Mercedes cars from the 1970s have a reputation for solidity, dating back to when the definition of a ‘long-lived’ car meant one that didn’t need welding when it was five years old and wasn’t completely clapped out by the time the five-digit odometer maxed out. Time has shown, however, that even classic Mercedes can succumb to the twin ravages of time and neglect; they are far from immortal, and even the strongest 1970s car can start rusting at what is an alarming pace to modern sensibilities. Of course, it’s credit to how far Mercedes was ahead of the game that even in the late 1980s, at the end of a decade in which build quality and engineering standards had come along in leaps and bounds, and when the ‘R107’ SL…

American Marina The US-market advert for the Austin Marina (as it was known across the Atlantic) published in our February 15 issue attracted the attention of Richard Heritage, who comments: “They labelled it as an Austin because Americans were very familiar with the ‘Austin’ name. The only official Morris import had been the Minor, up until 1967.” Sadly, Richard wasn’t impressed with the Austin Marina: “The vehicle was just another one of the BL disasters into the States at that time, like the rubber-bumpered Midget and MGB. The Marina had air conditioning fitted to it, and on top of that were the pollution controls that just dragged the 1800cc engine way down.” Richard goes on to explain that he was a Support Engineer with BL and Jaguar across four southern…

75 YEARS OF LOTUS From humble roots to F1 fame, from basic roadsters to mid-engined supercars, we pay tribute to a British legend. ’80s REPS’ CARS Revisiting and comparing a trio of sales rep specials – the Vauxhall Cavalier Mk2, Ford Sierra and Austin Montego. ‘SERIES’ LAND ROVERS We take an in-depth look at how to buy a Land Rover Series 2 or 3 – two of today’s most capable classic 4x4s. PLUS… All the latest classic news, auction previews and cars for sale. DOWNLOAD THE DIGITAL ISSUE OF CLASSIC CAR BUYER FROM AS LITTLE AS 94p! Visit: www.pocketmags.com or download it via the App Store; search ‘Classic Car Buyer’. The printed version of Classic Car Buyer is available in ASDA, Tesco, Morrisons and WH Smiths, plus all good newsagents…

Britain’s Car magazine was once famous for its predictions of future models, with many of its forecasts being impressively accurate over the years. But in the January 1980 issue, not everything was being correctly predicted. The front cover scoop was an artist’s impression of the new Austin Metro (set for launch that October) and Maestro (not due on sale for another three years or so), each of which looked identical to the production versions. The same issue also predicted, however, that as part of the Triumph TR7’s future upgrades and to counter the loss of the MGB, “American dealers will get a TR with the MG octagon and special wheels and paint”. Car magazine wasn’t alone in its mistake. In fact, several weeks earlier, the November 24, 1979 issue of…

1957: Beetle swaps the oval rear window for the bigger item, marking the beginning of a look that will remain for almost 50 years. The millionth car was built two years earlier. 1962-1966: Plenty of changes made, including the addition of heat exchangers and hydraulic brakes. 1964 brings a larger windscreen and side glass, while 1300 and 1500 models arrive in the next couple of years. 1967: Styling gets a major makeover, with revisions to the bonnet and engine lid and more upright headlights. Electrics swap to a 12-volt system. 1968: Beetle is propelled to big-screen stardom with the release of The Love Bug. It leads to plenty of Herbie replicas, which still prove popular today. 1978: Production in Germany effectively draws to a close with Beetle manufacture moved to VW’s…